WARNING: The video below has bright flashing lights. If you are sensitive to that, please don't watch it!

While I was swapping out the map lights for LEDs, I was lamenting to my friend about whether to go with white (brightest) or red (easiest on the eyes if someone switches the light on while driving at night).

He remarked that wouldn't it be cool if they could just change color depending on what you want. He's not the most tech-savvy, so he didn't realize that this was all that possible.

So, here were are. I am working on developing a programmable map light. It is using 7 LED Neopixel rings from adafruit and an Arduino micro. The arduino micro is capable of showing up as a USB device on a computer allowing full control via a computer. Of course, it can also be set up to be controlled by whatever button, dial, etc... combination I would want for an interface.

The video below is just a demo. I have only wired up the rings and tossed them inside the map light and ran some example code which illustrates what is possible.

Each of the 14 LEDs are individually controllable for color and brightness. This also means that each lamp can be individually programmed (passenger or driver).


Right now, I am contemplating the whole concept and how best to implement it. I do know that I would like each side to be separate. I want the default color to just be white, but to also remember preferences. I want it to have different presets for time of day or based on ambient light.
I would also like it to react differently to whether the door is opened or someone pushes the map light button.

My initial thought is to replace the lamp buttons and door slide switch with something (dial and a couple buttons?) for basic control. This allows it to be operated without a computer. But with the computer will be a much more advanced interface to set it up.

I am looking for ideas or suggestions just from a user perspective. Once I finish it, I will have all the details here how to do it yourself.

To be clear, I have no intention of running bright animations on this thing while driving down the road. I am aware that would probably violate more than one law. In actual use, the colors will just be solid. There could be a purpose for bright flashing such as when the hazards are on, etc..

Thoughts?

 

Bright white during the day.
Blue or red for night use and depending which way you want to go. The color should match all interior night lighting, for the cool factor.
If I remember correctly, red or green will not interfere with your night vision.
An easy quick color change to bright white would be nice when you are in a night environment.

 

You remember correctly. Red and green are often used in aircraft instruments exactly for that reason. Our eyes are not particularly sensitive to red or green so they don't need to re-adjust. It actually makes red and infrared lasers very dangerous since we have no reflex action.

One thing I have considered is a "softpot" which is basically just a strip that can sense where your finger is. I would run this along the edge of the light assembly. The purpose being to adjust the brightness of the light. That in and of itself would be useful, I think even with straight white lights.

I think this thread bombed. lol. Must be a horrible idea.

It did start out being an off-hand remark from a friend. But I admit that it is more of a "Hey, this can be done but why should you?" instead of the other way around. I guess I was looking for justification for it more than anything.

Maybe the flashing demo ruined it (disco in Retroplayer's car, anyone?)

 

LoL, I now have the vision of John Travolta pointing to the sky from the Saturday Night Fever album!!!

Keep up the excellent work retro!